davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

sweet and sticky condiment, and re
greet to state that never hear any mem
ton of the Confederacy but straightway
springs up in my mind very vivid rec
objection of that black, cloying and lily
refined molasses. Parched rye and
"goober" peas peanuts) were used by
some for coffee, but sweet potatoes, cut
in cubes, dried in the oven and then
ground, seemed to be regarded with the
highest favor as a substitute. Dried
raspberry leaves were used for tea.
Wheat became so scarce that biscuit,
light bread and cake made from -four
were esteemed the greatest delicacies,
and for time, near the close of the war,
flour was so rare in our section that the
only dish we could devise for my invalid
mother was "panada," made of hard
tack (far inferior in quality to that of
the Northern soldiery), softened with
boiling water and sweetened with a
morsel of our small and precious store of
sugar. This small quantity of sugar and
pound of tea my father found great
difficulty in procuring, and for them he
paid the sum of $3.50.
Money had deprecated to a wonderful
extent, and prices were so high that a cut
of the period represented lady going to
shop with a small basket upon her arm
with which to bring home the purchased
articles, while little negro boy trundled
wheelbarrow load of Confederate
money at her side with which to pay for
them.
The subject of lights was another with
which it was found difficult to contend.
Tallow was used freely during the first
years of the war; old candle-molds were
brought out from their hiding places and
put to use, and "tallow dips" became as
familiar to US as they had been to our
forefathers. But the source of supply
for these flights of other days" soon be-
came exhausted, and woman's ingenuity
was again put to the test. Lard also had
been in frequent use, and favorite light
was saucer or can filled with this
melted substance wherein foated a burn
ing sycamore ball. 1t, too, was growing
scarce, however, and new material must
be evolved.
Several things were tried, but a mix
ture of beeswax and resin was found
best of them all. Through this mixture,
when melted, a long coil of candle-wick-
ing was drawn again and again until
thoroughly coated, and in order to make
this coating even several nersons stood
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

1tY praCtlCeQ Dy Ine Ialr
ladies of the Confederacy during the last
years of the war?
The exigencies of the time were great,
for the outside resources of the South
slim at the start, if one will recall the
small number of manufactures to be
found in that section-were dwindling
fast away, and often such supplies as
could be developed at home and among
families were the only ones that could
be relied upon.
These supplies included articles of
every nature, from food and clothing for
the family down to toys for the children.
The question of dress became per-
picked one after all ports were block
AIDED by Northern vessels and all frontier
posts were held by Northern troops, and
woman's wit was severely taxed in order
to make good appearance from the ma
terial at her command.
An occasional fashion journal, how
ever, as well as dresses, bonnets, shoes,
&C., would be Struggled through the
lines or run the bockade," and a sight
of these interesting and fabulously high
priced articles, bringing glimpses of
that outer world from which she was
so completely hedged in, only served as
an incentive for further achievements,
and to furnish models from which to
fashion homemade garments. For in
stance, my little four-year-old sister
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

became the happy possessor OF small
Leghorn chapeau, daintily trimmed with
blue and gray velvet, which had run the
blockade and cost $50. Twas too small
for myself, the eldest of the two, and my
mother determined that she would con-
trive a hat for me which would rival the
purchased one in beauty. She selected
soft, yellow husks, of well-dried Indian
corn, as her material to work from, in
stead of palmetto leaves, which were
very commonly used for plating hats.
She tore the husks into narrow strips
with pin, and from these braided
a very pretty pointed plat of five
strands. This she afterward sewed into
hat similar in shape to that of my sis
ters, lined it with shirred peachblow
silk, and trimmed it with fringed and
knotted scarf of the same, which silk was
cut from the best remaining parts of a
dress worn years before at her coming
out party" Of the two little hats mine
with its pretty combination of cream
color and pink was deemed the most at
tractive.
Southern manufactured calico was very
coarse and sleazy and sold at this time
Q864-65) at $50 per yard. Aside from
the fact that few could afford to pur-
chase it, homespun goods were really
preferred by many. All grades of these
goods would be found at the stores, but
those desiring really nice dresses pre-
pared the material and had it woven, if
possible, at their homes.
My colored nanny felt profound
disdain for what she denominated "dat
himpsey, Federico stuff" and when my
best Sunday dress of the scorned mate
rial suddenly and disastrously gave way
one day, she declared she would make
me homespun gown that would as far
surpass it as the sun does the stars. My
fragile mother, overweight by privation
and suspense, was i'll at the time and
nanny had full sway in the selection
of material for making the promised
gown. She sought the attic and came
down with large bundle of badly-worn
garments of silk and wool, in black and
white, and also bits of silk and wool
cloth. These garments and bits she cut
into very small pieces and then with
wonderful patience picked them entirely
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24
CALIFORNIA; wETTEsT YEAR.
The Rain Fall in Twelve Months in tn,
Golden State.


The Rain Fall in Twelve Months in the
Golden State.
In the season of 1876 no less than 1927
inches of rain fell in San Francisco. The
down-pour increased northward and di-
minished south of it. 1t was the wettest
season reported since the American oc-
eupation. The Sacramento valley was
flooded to a great depth. The present
season, so far, bears some resem blance
to that of 1S61-62. In the last-men-
toned period a long drouth preceded
the drenching rains. There was no rain
in July or August. There was little
sprinkle in September to the extent of
the one-hundredth part of an inch
There was no rain in October. But in
November the long spell of dry weather
was broken. The rain was not heavy at
first. 1t took twelve days to drop 40
inches. In December the flood gates were
opened and 9.54 inches fell in sixteen
days. This was followed by the unpre-
cedented fall of 24.36 inches in eighteen
days in January. There were afterward
7.35 inches in ten days of February and
2.20 inches in eleven days of March.
The rains of the early part of the season
came from the south in heavy showers.
The great rains of January were cold
and partly from the northwest They
were continuous and steady rather than
heavy. The resemblance to 1S61-62 so
far is that there has been no rain in July
and August. There was a small shower
in September, but none since. What
there is in such resemblances cannot, of
course, be determined inc the present
state of our meteorological knowledge.
a. 4 - =
longer rain will have to come pretty
soon, for we have passed beyond the
middle of November -Ecchange.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

Said Brown, "The day l was married
quit chewing tobacco, and tell you it was
pretty hard ON me that day, but in day or
two 1 was all right" 'Ah! hows that %
81 commenced chewing again."
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

apart into species of lint. This lint
was carded into rolls, which were then
spun into thread, and from this thread
the material was finally woven. The
goods resulting from this commingling
of white and black were of medium gray
In color, their texture was smooth and
silky, and as a specimen of home manu-
facture were deserving of great credit.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

There is girl in Michigan six feet nine
inches tall, and when her lover stands on
his tiptoes and leads for kiss she stoops to
concur.-t hicdg0 Tribune.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24


in a row holding the wick
ing at short intervals, and
shaping the wax upon it as it
passed through their hands.
The position of greatest honor
and difficulty in this under
taking was conceded to be
the one next to the pan con-
tanning the heated melted
mixture.
When cold, this waxen rope
was wound, row after row,
around bottle, with the free
end put through a strip of
tin with a hole in it, in order
to hold it upright. These
candles gave forth a meagre
but a steady light. "Candle-
making bees" were quite the
style, and young ladies and
their military beaux ION leave"
managed to extract a great
deal of merriment from them.
The refreshments were usu-
ally fruit and peanuts.
A light for sick-rooms con-
sisted of a scrap of paper cut
like a miniature foolscap and
set in a saucer of lard. When
the point of this little cap
was well oiled and lit it gave
forth sufficient illumination
to see a watch, or drop medi-
cine by. Before lard became
so scarce lady friend of ours
illuminated her house beauti-
fully for an evening party with
these tiny jets of flame. She
borrowe win e
glasses from far
and near, con-
verified them into
VA these little lamps
VMP and placed them
in pyramids on
eSe1< mantels, brackets
(l3 . and all available
places. The effect
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24
SOURCE OF OUR wICKEDNEss.
IChicann Ne,us

The rapid. increase in the number of crimi-
mails in various penal institutions is due to
exactly the same source. The United States
has become the land which, owing to its ill
regulated immigration rules. is the asylum of
not only the oppressed of all lands, but of
their beggars, paupers and criminals as well.
How-iong this country will cheerfully sub
NIT to the bearing of this burden, which has
already become exceedingly onerous, is for
the next& Congress to decide.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24
JUSTICE IN AFRICA.
The Eey OF Tunis Gives Sea Captain
Taste Of Morocco Justice.

The Eey OF Tanis Gives Sea Captain
Taste Of Morocco Justice.
certain Capt. Baculard left Marseilles
for China, but, being buffeted by Winds he
made for the haIbor of Tunis to await bet
ter weather. The collector of the port came
on board. Capt. Baculard represented that
he was freighted for Canton, that he had
nothing to do with Tunis and that he bad
only put in from stress of weather But the
collector succeeded in demonstrating to him
that he must pay the harbor dues . Can't.
Baculard did so, but repaired instantly 10
the palace of the Bey, and delnande, Justice.
Good Frank" said the Bey, Il am your
frlend-God is great. What do you want ?''
"Hlghness, answered Capt. Baculard,
your custom house has robbed me. / have
had to pay uniuStly."
Excellent individual" answered the Bey.
lin this country, when we have the money
we keep it, The first acquisition is a diff.
| Guilty To give back a thing is unknown in
Africa. but shall not have justice?"
certainly every one has justice in Tunis.
Will you have it in French or Tunis fash
ionY
"HighnesS. have had lawsuit or two in
France. Justice in French fashion-heaven
forbid"
But don't press it upon you," observed
the Bey, If you choose the French viii
speak to your Consul. He loves justice,
good man. Three of my subjects applied to
him years ago for immunity, and they will
get It next year, think, for he loves justice.
:, French justice? Never! Give inc the
Tunisian: anl in hurry"
so be it then God is great" said the Bey
What Is your cargo?"
'Marseilles soap and 10000 cotton caps.v
1t is well. Go away and be tranquil"
EThe Bey summoned the Vizier.
'Vizler" said he, there is no God but God
and Mahomet is his prophet. We love ius
tlce-we love the Franks. Proclaim that
every jew who appears tomorrow out of
doors without q cotton cap will have little
transaction to settle with me-"
There were some thousands of Jews in
| Tunis, and there was not single cotton can
| They all made their wills, when they learned
| through an officer of customs that Can't.
Baculard had lots of the desired articles.
That was enough-Capt Baculard sold the
invoice at IS. cap. He rushed to the palace
and poured out his thanks.
Not SO fast" said the Bey; 81 am not
done yet. Call my Vizier.'
Tie Vizier appeared.
Proclaim" said the Bey, "that every Jew
who keeps o cotton cap another hour will
have trouble with you. God is great. and
L am llneal descendant of Mahomet"
The Vizler made grand salaam and re-
tired.
When Capt. Baculard returned to his ship
ne found crowd of Jews already awaiting
him, caps in hand. He purchased the arti-
Giles at penny apiece.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24
and south
District
12s,os2.

IUIdI I@o,Uo1. 1880.
1t will be seen that in all the great State of
Ohio there is no district that throws so few
congressional votes as are thrown by the en-
tire State of Georaia. ANY single district
OF Maine also surpasses the State of Georgia
in this Respect, and the four Maine districts,
If votes elected here as in Georgia, would re-
turn more than forty Congressman. The
law apportioning the population of the coun-
try into Congressional districts is general
law, applying to Georgia just as it does to
Maine. But the state of political activity
and public conscience is far different in
Maine and Georgia.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

The new Canadian cruiser Triumph is rep
resented as very fast vessel At least her
captain says so. Captain Lorway declares
tlat SHE is the fastest schooner he ever saw.
On one occasion she made, in an hour and
ten minutes, fourteen and three-fourths
knots by the patent log. Nothing in those
waters, he thinks, can get away from her
Unfortunately Captain Lorway seems to
have no particular use for such a splendid
craft. There has been not a single Yankee
In that region needing chasing OF fifty
American schooners that he has boarded in
tbeyicinity of Cape Sable every one has been
willing to observe Canadian regulations to
the letter Nevertheless, let Captain Lor-
way keep his splendid boat. He appears to
be gentleman who does his duty instead of
spending his time spinning yarns about the
number of wicked Yankees he has chased
and the number of blank shots he has fred
after piratical shippers from the States.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

1t is difficult to see how the Hon. John
Redman is to be provided for unless he ac-
eepts a deputy collectorship which would
be rather humiliating to a man who has the
endorsement of the Democratic State Com
mite as worthy of any office in the gift of
the President. All the important Maine of
fees are now filled, and there seems to be no
plausible excuse for creating any new ones.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
SPECIAL NOTICE.

The attention of Gentlemen desiring to purchase
fine strictly all Wool Suit well made, and of excellent
fashion, at an extremely low price, is called to an
sOrtment of rstclass Suits have marked at the low
price of $3.50 per suit.
These not Suits of questionable style and quality
that Offer but straightforward honest goods at
much less than actual value.
We still continue the sale of first quality Middlesex
Blue Suits at S1OO per Suit strictly all Wool and In
digO fully guaranteed. An examination of these an
gains will prove of interest to all intending purchasers
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

NJ Rouvier has found the job of forming
new French cabinet too big one for him,
and he has given up in despair De Freycinet
is to be asked to reconsider his refusal with
the understanding that If the cabinet he may
form does not command the support of the
assembly that body will be dissolved and an
appeal taken to the country.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

There is trouble in Kapiolani's dominion
consequent upon the opium restriction law
and the Chinese are threatening revolt The
Queen is much disquieted by the news. If
there is to be a rebellion, she ought to thank
her stars that she is in this country. Here
she is safe. There very likely she would be
shot
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

gressmen would hardly elect Mayor in
small northern city. A comparison of the
totals in the last Georgia return with the to-
tails OF the last returns from Maine and Ohio,
two representative Northern States, is inter
estlng as showing the difference in the
healthfulness of political life in the north
and south:
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

TUESDAY MORNING, MAY "a.

We do not read anonymous letters and commu-
nications. The name and address of the writer
are in all cases indispensable, not necessarily for
publication but as guarantee of good faith.
We cannot undertake to return or nreserve
communications that are not used
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

1t is understood that Mr.. Charles Harbutt,
Senior In the Bangor Theological Semina-
ry, who some time ago offered himself to the
American Board for service in the foreign
mission field, is not to be sent out at present.
The Bangor Commercial says that slight
difficulty about certain theological points has
occasioned this action on the part of the
boald. Is the difficulty over the doctrine of
probation? is, Mr.. Harbutt is in the
same position with number of other young
candidates for foreign missions. who have
been refused positions since the controversy
in the Des Moines convention.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

The Halifax Chronicle ana the Herald of
the same city, the former the Liberal and
the latter the Tory organ, are discussing Wig
orously the question Of commercial union
with the United States. The Chronicle is
heartily in favor of such a union ON the
ground that the United States is the natural
market of Nova Scotia. 1t thinks free in
terchange OF traffic with the United States
would be the best possible compensation
that could be given Nova Scotia for having
been thrust into the Confederation. The
Herald on the other hand looks with disfa
yor upon the movement. 1t thinks a com
mercial union would inevitably lead to po
htical union and suspects that a scheme of
annexation is at the bottom of the agitation.
There seems to be no doubt that the move
ment is popular in the province, and that the
Chronicle represents the views of the people
more correctly than the Herald. But the
Herald is the government organ and doubt
less reflects the opinion of Sir John Mac
donald and his cabinet-an opinion which is
controlled largely by the sentiment of the
western provinces where great deal of
money has been invested in manufactures
under the National protective policy which
It's owners think would be lost were a COM
mercial union established with the United
States and our manufacturers allowed 70
compete with those of the Dominion.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

The biggest Penobscot salmon of the sea-
son so far tips the scale at thirty-four and
half pounds. Meanwhile the fishing be-
comes fast and furious.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

The way the New Hampshire savings
banks are dipping into Western farm mort
cages Is causing good deal of anxiety
among the conservative fnanciers of that
State, and the Legislature at its coming ses-
sion will be aske d to put restrictions on tho
business. Luckily for the depositors in
Maine savings banks the last Legislature set
its seal of disapproval upon this business
Not that all investm ents in Western farm
mortgages are bad investments. Many of
them doubtless are good ones. The difficult
ty is to separate the good from the bad. and
this can only be done by thorough exami
nation OF the property and its title by the
investor or by some person on whose iudg-
ment and honesty he can rely. But most of
these mortgages are offered to investors bv
companies concerning whose respons ibilitv
little is known and can be known. Had the
savings banks been allowed to invest in this
kind OF security the probability is that by
this time many Of them would have been
loaded down with mortgages on real estate of
the character of which they would have little
knowledge of except what came to them
through companies that were getting a pre-
MUM for negotiating loans and whose inter
est it is to negotiate as many and as large
ones as possible.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

The consolidation of the internal revenue
district of Maine with that of New Hamp-
shire, and the transferring of the collectors
office to the latter State will not be the boon to
the rumsellers which some of them suppose.
OF course our State courts cannot summon
witnesses from New Hampshire, and there
lore the Collector cannot be compelled to
testify who have paid the United States lio-
uor tax. But person can go from Maine IL
the collectors Office, examine the list of the
names of those who have paid liquor taxes,
aud his testimony as to what names appear
on the list will be received in our courts
So the removal of the internal revenue office
to New Hampshire will not prevent prose-
cutting officers from taking advantage of the
prind Jdcie clause Of the new law.
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24
CURRENT COMM EMIT.
AN OLD OFFENDER.
rCincinnati Commercial Gayntt

IOlnclnnau Commercial Gazette
The locomotive spark has begun the sea-
sons campaign. 1t has just devastated sew
enty-hye thousand acres of woodland in Mas
sachusetts. The locomotive spark is an in
cendiary that ought to be arrested, though it
seems hard with all the inventions, to find
an arreSter that will do the work to perfec-
tion. Were railroad companies required to
pay the losses caused by their fire horses the
business of looking after stray sparks would
be greatly stimulated
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

In soil, climate, natural resources and men
the State of Georgia has long claimed a pre-
eminence among the States of the extreme
Southern belt. She is State Of which her
people are very proud, wherever they may 20.
And in the main they are justly proud. But
in one respect, namely, in politics, the boast
ed bloom of Georgia life, seems to be wither-
ing under process of stagnation. For some
reasons Georgians are taking no interest in
politics, or if they are taking interest they
do not vote, or, If they do vote, many of their
votes are not counted. The official figures of
the last Congressional election in Georgia
have been published. Compared with the
results in northern States, they are remarka-
bic The votes that elect Georgian Con-
The Portland daily press., 1887-05-24

There is no longer any doubt as to the at
tltude of the Pope in the controversy be-
tween Dr. McGlynn and Archbishop Corri-
gan. A letter received by the latter from
the Holy Father endorses his conduct
throughout the controversy and condemns
the George land doctrine. 1T is indeed
grateful to us" says the letter, "that You
have labored to crush, ere they sprang up,
the vicious seeds of doctrines scattered I'M
der pretext Of helping the Masses" With
the letter to the Archbishop was one to DR..
McGlynn giving notice that unless he an
peared before the Propaganda within forty
days the Pope would excommunicate him by
name. DIR. McGlynn has got to choose then
between the George doctrine and the Catho-
lie church. BY allegiance to the former he
viii put himself with out the pale of the lat
ter The question is momentous one. Ex-
communication does not mean what it did
centuries ago, but even to-day it is some
thing to be dreaded. DR.. McGlynn has gone
too far, however, to turn back He has pro-
claimed in public that no matter what the
decision of the Pope, he would stick to the
George doctrine. To recant now would be
to forfeit the respect of his fellow men and
consign his name to the category of brag.
CARTS and poltroons.